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Every mother with small people should read “Loving the Little Years.”
Several times.
Yearly, even.
The mother of 5 children five-years-old and under, Rachel Jankovic knows what she’s talking about and brings refreshing perspective on “motherhood in the trenches.”
It is easy to feel exhausted and overwhelmed just with the task of keeping little ones fed and clothed. But they need so much more than that! We are called to disciple our children and instruct them in righteousness, and if we aren’t tending their hearts, all our work is in vain. With little sinners constantly running around your house, it’s so easy to get frustrated, and, (perhaps only sub-consciously,) begin to view them as bothersome and in the way of “life.”
Rachel gave me great ideas to change my own heart and attitude in short, encouraging and uplifting chapter bites. I love the imagery and stories that Rachel uses with her kids to illustrate concepts so they can understand.
“Setting behaviors into stories is a great way to communicate with your little people. Got a boy hitting a sister? Tell him about a brave knight who went out to fight the dragon but started hitting the princess instead. Give children a chance to get outside themselves and see their behavior as it plays out in a story. It often turns out that they know exactly the right thing to do.”
She reminds us to look at our children as little people. Her wisdom has already aided me in several discipline situations, reminding me to look at it from little Katie’s perspective and really try to see the heart issue.
I’ve read this book twice, and I already want to read it again. The short chapters are easy to get through, even for a busy mother of little ones, and you are sure to come away sobered, strengthened, and amused.
Rachel says:
“I didn’t write this book because mothering little ones is easy for me. I wrote it because it isn’t. I know that this is a hard job, because I am right here in the middle of it. I know you need encouragement because I do too.”
“This is not a tender reminiscence from someone who had children so long ago that she only remembers the sweet parts. At the time of writing this, I have three children in diapers, and I can recognize the sound of hundreds of toothpicks being dumped out in the hall.”
“[This] is a loose collection of thoughts on mothering young children—for when you are motivated, for when you are discouraged, for the times when discipline seems fruitless, and for when you are just plain old tired.”
“The opportunities for growth and refinement abound here—but you have to be willing. You have to open your heart to the tumble. As you deal with your children, deal with yourself always and first. This is what it looks like and feels like to walk with God, as a mother.”
Today you get a chance to win a copy of ”Loving the Little Years!” right here at Mama Chocolate!
Comment here to tell me one way that you follow me: email subscription, Google Friend Connect, (look in the sidebar,) Facebook, or Twitter. (You can do all four for one entry each, just leave separate comments.)
You may also get extra entries for sharing about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook or Twitter! Just leave a link to your post in the comments!
We’ll draw one winner from the comments here this Saturday, August 6th.
If you’d like another chance to win, visit the Doorposts blog, where we will be giving away a second copy!
Contest Closed 
{ 119 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello, Thanks for the opportunity to enter this draw. I subscribed by email.
These truths are also good for bigger ones, and with a new little grandson so close in age to his uncle, I will be employing these methods of sharing the gospel with both of them. Thank you for your insight.
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I have 5 children. They are 7, 5, 3, 2, and 9 months . I love being a mother and wife.
Each day brings new joy to see what they will discover today! This book looks great!
I follow you on email subscription… look forward to reading this book
Thank you for a great giveaway! I am following you on facebook
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Now, I also follow you on Google connect, will enjoy reading your blog!
I am also following through GFC!
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I am an email subscriber.
Thank you for your post about Loving the Little Years. I have an 11 year old, 8 year old and 3 year old. We are in the process of moving and our 3 year old has gone wild in the process. I needed to remember he is a little one who is trying to make sense of what is happening in his life. I follow your doorposts blog and learned of your blog through that site
I am a new Google Friend Connect Follower.
I’d love to give this to a friend who just had baby #9 (oldest is 14). I think it would make a great gift!
Shared on Facebook. Thank you for this giveaway.
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Facebook but just as of today. Thanks for the book recommendation, looking forward to reading it soon.
This looks like a great book and I have joined up here and on facebook “O) No twitter though, sorry :O( Thanks for the chance to win “O)))
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I shared about this giveaway on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SarahWilson06/status/99092630029348864
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I follow you via email. I print many of your insightful teachings for use at home (mom of 6). Beth
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I’ve gotcha on FB. I just love those adorable little faces in your photo album!!
Wonderful idea! To gain a little perspective while in the trenches! Thanks for sharing!
I am now following via email =)
I like you on FB. Thank you for the entry!
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I’d love to win a copy! I had five in seven years!
Thank you for this wonderful introduction!
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Facebook … but just as of today. Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the suggestion!
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And I signed up for the email subscription!
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(Beth Arney Stabley)
I am following and sharing, you on Facebook!!
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would love to win this i found your site from GFC
I just discovered you through Doorposts and I now follow you on Facebook! Would love to win this book.
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I love this idea and hope to read this book!
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Just found out about you from doorposts! Would love to win the book!
I found you through doorposts. I’ve been wanting to read this book!
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New FB fan! I have three under three and look foward to being encouraged by your book and blog. Thanks for this opportunity!
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I had a friend tell me how wonderful this book is just the other day. I would love to win a copy. Following you via Facebook!
Hi! So glad to have found your blog….following you @facebook!!
Oh to have had this book when I was raising and loving on my three children who are now all grown up! But what a blessing it would be to be able to pass on insight and encouragements to my married daughter and daughter-in-laws. Sometimes it’s best to hear from someone your own age and going through the same thing at the moment, not stories of how it was many years ago except that none of it has changed one bit!!
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Hadn’t seen you before! Love the title of your blog and looking forward to ‘snooping’ around your site…!
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I have been wanting this!
I just started following you on Facebook; this book looks really great!
I WOULD LOVE to win the book “loving the little years!” as it is right up my alley. I want to cherish all the moments I have with my children in the midst of raising them to be children of God. I really liked your “Unplugging The TV” blog…..you make such a good point. Now, to convince my husband that we should try it for a week. I’ve been wanting to cut back to for the whole family. I’m now following you on Facebook. Thanks!
I could really use this book – I need help! One of my favorite part of raising little ones is the way the so often point me to the Lord. I love their questions and their childlike faith!
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Just discovered your blog from the Doorposts site. I’m really anxious to read this book. Just from the intro I realize in my heart I have tucked my children into a “makes a mess” category. Even though I love them with all my heart, I’ve stopped enjoying them somewhere along the way under the piles of laundry, homeschool books and dishes. I’m not sure I can even wait for the giveaway. This sounds like a must have for me.
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Im an email subscriber and a momma of five little ones I am in need of new ideas and sounds like this book would be a blessing for me. Thanks for the oppurtunity
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Loved this book. Would like to win this one to share with another mom of littles!
This looks like such a sweet book!
I follow you on Facebook. I have a friend that just read this book and she keeps telling me that I MUST read it! Can’t wait!!
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Signed up for an e-mail subscription! Hope I win, ’cause it sounds like a great book!
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Added to Google Reader. This looks like a really great book!
I love speaking our made up language. It is quite fun as my daughter is the one who usually initiate it.
A friend just referred me to Doorposts, where I saw your book giveaway. God is good as your book could not be more timely for our family as we navigate to a more God honoring life. Thanks for offering this =)
Liked on FB as well as e-mail. Thanks!